Improvements On The Way For Holy Family Cathedral

A Tulsa landmark is getting a facelift.  Holy Family Cathedral in downtown Tulsa is getting millions of dollars worth of improvements.  News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports the project gives you the rare chance to see inside the church's 15 story spire.

Holy Family Cathedral at 8th and Boulder is a beautiful Tulsa landmark.  Built in 1914, the city has grown up around it.

"The Pastor of the Parish at the time got in trouble for building it so far out of town," said Father Matt LaChance.

Father LaChance says it is Tulsa's oldest church building.  But, the old building needed to be fixed up.

So, it is undergoing a facelift.

"There are many people who will drive in from surrounding towns to go to church here, because they really appreciate the beauty of this structure," said Father Matt LaChance.

Father LaChance says the congregation has planned for years to do the improvements.  The last time the inside of the cathedral was painted was back in 1974.

"We hope to kind of bring back some of the architectural detail that's been kind of lost over the years," said Father Matt LaChance.

The things you don't see are the new wiring and air conditioning ducts.  But, it's hard to miss the work being done on the cathedral's giant spires.  Copper will replace the aluminum shingled roof.

Fifteen stories up inside the spire, construction crews are replacing the old wooden planks with metal.  Then, they'll be ready for the copper to be added.

Altogether the improvements add up to more than four million dollars.

It's a special endeavor that will have the cathedral in tip top shape as it nears its 100th anniversary in a few more years.

"This is really a jewel.  I think.  It's an important part of the Church's patrimony here in Tulsa," said Father Matt LaChance.

Most of the interior painting at the cathedral is expected to be finished by Easter, with the copper roof finished by next Thanksgiving.